Dental device and method of utilizing the same



Nov. 5, 1929. PHILLIPS 1,734,398

DENTAL DEVICE AND METHOD OF UTILIZING THE SAME Filed April 19, 1926 l a-tented Nov. 5, 1929 GEORGE P. PHILLIPS, or BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS DENTAL DEVICE AND METHOD OF UTILIZING THE SAME Application filed April 19,

This invention relates to dental devices and processes, being intended to provide improved and more accurate means for recording the lateral mandibular movements in the mouth of a patient and reproducing them in an adjustable articulator.

Inproviding artificial teeth for the mouth of a patient where the services of an adjust able articulator are availed of, trial plates, which have been properly adapted to plaster casts or models made from impressions of the patients upper and lower jaws, are trans ferred to the patients mouth and, through their aid, locking molds or check bites are made of the opposite extreme lateral positions of the jaw. The trial plates are then replaced in the plaster casts and, with the latter, are placed in the articulator which, with the aid of the locking molds, can be adjusted to reproduce the extreme lateral positions of the patients jaw.

Trial plates heretofore employed have been commonly molded from wax or similar material and have comprised the rim portions formed by the ridges of the jaws, with an intermediate plate or wall which covers the walls of the mouth between the jaws. In these trial plates the teeth, which are to be mounted upon the plate, have been ordinarily represented by a thickened portion or occlusal rim which is built upon the rim portion of the trial plate, so that when the plates are placed in the mouth the jaws are maintained at the normal or intended distance of separation by the occlusal rims meeting in a substantially continuous surface of contact.

In attempting to secure a recordof the extreme lateral movements or bites through the use of trial plates of this description, a serious error arises due to the fact that, when'the jaw of the patient is moved to its extreme lateral position in either direction, the biting pressure is largely transferred to one side of the trial plate. The rims rest upon the soft tissues. and ridges of the jaw so that this side pressure received on the rim at one side tends to tip the plate and lift or unseat the rim at the opposite side, displacing one or both plates from the position which they should occupy.

w This displacement of the trial plates from 1926. Serial No. 102,830.

their correct position under these conditions gives an incorrect registration and constitutes a source of error in recording mandibular movements which has limited the use of an adjustable articulator to operators possessing unusual technical training and skill.

In carrying out the improved method of the present invention, I cause the resultant biting pressure between the trial plates to be applied at such a point within the peripheral supporting rim portion of each plate as to maintain the seating pressure upon all parts of the rim instead of withdrawing it from the side of the rim opposite to that toward which the jaw movement is taking place.

Preferably this is accomplished by providing a bearing member carried by one of the trial plateswhich is adapted to engage with a bearing rest secured to the companion trial plate and located between the opposite sides of the rim so as to distribute the biting pressure to both opposite sides of the rim of the same plate in all positions of the jaw. The

bearing rest also provides a means for maintaining the normal separation of the trial plates instead of relying uponthe thickened or occlusal rim portions which are customarily relied on to perform the separating functions of the teetl The invention will be best understood by reference to the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying illustration of one specific embodiment thereof, while its scope will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one of the trial plates with the bearing rest secured thereto;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional elevation taken on the line 2-2 in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the companion trial plate;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional elevation taken on the line 4l4t in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is an elevation showing the relation between the two trial plates when carried by their plaster casts in the articulator,the lat ter, however, not being shown.

Referring to the drawings and to the illustrative embodiment of the invention,.the

attachment there shown comprises a supporting member in the form of a shaped metallic plate or frame 7 (Figs. 1 and 2) of such size and shape that it can be readily secured to a mold or trial plate 9 f any usual or suitable shape. The plate Y secured by molding contact to the face of the trial plate over that portion of the mold which is formed by the ridges of the jaws the usual thickened or built up portion being omitted. On the plate 7 there is al o provided a suitable bearing rest which is adapted to receive the biting pressure from the companion tria plate.

ller n the bearing rest is in the form of a ball ll permanently retained in the cup 13 but adapted to turn therein, the cup being secured hc pin 15 having threaded adjustment in the ball supporting socket l7 and provided withthe locl: nut 18. The "oclret is located between the opposite sides of the tr al plate preferably at substantia imate center or the periphery t convenience in manipulation the i ried by an intermediate, removable memb r, herein in the form of a -shaped supp-o plate 19, the sides of which may be slipped under the enlarged heads of the st ds 21 carried by tl e plate 7, while the tongue of the plate 19 loosely on the rior portion of the plate 7.

to F s.

rests The companion trial plate, shown in 3 and l, comprises the usual mold 255 having the rim 25 and faced with the metallic plate 27, the latter providing an extended bean mem er which is adapted to bear tne ball 11 of toe opposite rial plate.

ln Fig. 5 the two trial plates 1' and 23 shown placed in their respective pla. ter c 29 and 31 in the position w iich they occupy in the articulator. From this, the method of use in the mouth of the patient will be readily understood. The trial plates having been placed in the mouth of the patient, the ball carrying supporting plate 19 is applied to the plate '4' and the ball rest adjusted toward away from the bearing member 27 of the companion plate 28 until the correct point of separation has been secured. The ball is then locked in position by the lock nut 18. The patient is now enabled to move his with absolute freedom and ease, exactl as if he had his full complement of teeth.

In recording the extreme lateral positions of bites the jaw may be moved as usual, but the biting pressure is now received ei upon the bearing plate 27 and or rest- 11 so that it is distribu posite sides of the same plate through the si igle bearing point, which is located in agprotrimately the center of the periphery of the bite rims. l iny upsetting or unseating tendcncy of the trial plates is thereb prevei ed in the extreme lateral positions of the so that accurate records may now be made in the usual way by the use of check bite molds.

v l hile the trial plates are in the mouth of the patent all the lateral or forward protrusions of the jaw act to compress the underlying soft tissues of the jaw ridges with an evenly distributed pressure, assuring perfect balance.

When the trial plates are transferred to the articulator the separation of the plates is definitely fixed by the adjustment which has been given the bearing ball 11 and the em treme lateral positions which have thus been accurately recorded can be readily reproduced through the aid of the previously formed check bite molds.

l' v hile l have herein shown and described for the purpose of illustration one specific embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that extensive deviations may be made therefrom all without departing from the spirit thereof.

Slaims:

1. it trial plate attachment for dental use in securing lateral mandibular movements com arising a bearing member adapted to be ired to one trial plate and adjustable to- .d and away from the companion plate, a bearing rest adapted to be secured to one trial plate and so located as to maintain biting pressure over opposite sides of the trial plate in extreme lateral positions, said bearing rest having a f-shaped supporting plate detachable from the trial plate,the supporting plate h ving sides adapted to engage with fastenings on the trial plate, and a tongue adapted when in position to rest on the anterior portion of the trial plate whereby the same may be adjusted and applied to the trial plate after the latter has been inserted in the patients mouth.

2. A. trial plate attachment for dental use in securing lateral mandibular movements in the mouth of a patient, the same comprising a bearing member adapted to be secured to one trial plate and a bearing rest adapted to be secured to a companion plate, the latter comprising contact means located within the rim of the plate and adjust-able toward and away from its companion plate, said contact means being removably associated with its trial plate whereby it may be adjusted and applied to its trial plate in the mouth of the patient after adjustment.

3. A trial plate attachment for dental use in securing lateral mandibular movements in the mouth of a patient, the same having a bearing member adapted to be secured to one trial plate and a bearing rest adapted to be secured to the companion plate, said bearing resthaving a supporting member separable from the trial plate but adapted to be applied thereto after the plate has been'inserted in the mouth of the patient.

i. A trial plate attachment for dental use in locating the extreme opposite lateral positions of the jaw comprising a support adapted to be secured to one trial plate and presenting a bite-receiving bearing surface between the rim-supporting portions of the plate and a single anti-friction ball bearing rest adapted to be secured to the remaining plate intermediate the rim-supporting portions thereof to engage said bearing surface and centralize the biting pressure to maintain the same over opposite sides of the trial plate While permitting the free movement of the aWs under biting pressure to extreme lateral positions, the one trial plate being unimpeded in its movement to extreme lateral positions and having its entire bearing contact through said anti-friction ball bearing rest.

5. A trial. plate attachment for dental use in locating the extreme opposite lateral positions of the jaw comprising a support adapted to be secured to one trial plate and presenting a bite-receiving bearing surface intermediate the rim portions of the plate, and an anti-friction bearing rest adapted to be secured to the bearing plate and movable freely over the intermediate bearing surface to maintain the biting pressure over the op posit-e sides of the trial plates, the one trial plate being unimpeded in its movement to extreme opposite lateral positions and having its entire bearing Contact through said anti-friction bearing rest.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

GEORGE P. PHILLIPS. 

